EAST COAST ROAD

Te Puke Times, 21 February 1930, Page 3

EAST COAST ROAD

GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE Good progress is being made with the East Coast Road, and when completed with metal and bridges, it will not only be a boon to the settlers, but perhaps one of the finest holiday resorts in the Dominion (says the Opotiki Herald). As a fisherman’s paradise, the Coast, with its numerous bays, has few equals at any season of the year. With the Motu Bridge completed and tenderß now being let for the Haparapara Bridge, it should not be long before motorists will have Very little difficulty In reaching Te Kaha. Already cars have traversed the distance under their own power, by happening to strike the Haparapara Btream in a good mood with very little water. By next year, however, in all probability wool and other produce will be carted per lorry and shipped away from Opotiki. Already service cars are running regular trips to Omaio, and local tradespeople are doing extensive business with the settlers. Bread, meat and groceries are sent down three and four times a week, and it is only a matter of a short time when the huge Coast area will be coming into its own. It is only a few years eg) that this Vast tract of oouhtry was depending solely upon wool, but now the Te Kaha factory is doiDg much to relieve the hardship of the settlers. D( Spite the present low price of wool, however, we feel optimistic enough to express the opinion that it is paly a matter of time when wcpl and mutton will pome back like beef and cattle. It will be than that the East Coast will boom, ar d provided inflated land values mi prices can be kept within reasonable bounds, and not allowed to slump like the Upper Waioeka, a bright future is in store for our genial, haid-work-ing Coast settlers.